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FAQ

Facelift

A facelift (technically known as a rhytidectomy) can reverse the signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift is rejuvenation surgery that now goes beyond just tightening skin. A modern facelift usually extends below the skin to address the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) by repositioning underlying facial muscles as well as reducing excess skin. A facelift may be performed by itself to address the lower third of the face and neck or it can be performed in conjunction with other procedures such as a endoscopic brow lift, eyelid surgery, mid face surgery, ear reshaping, or nose reshaping.

Gone are the expressionless, wind-tunneled looks of the past. Today, surgeons strive to give a natural, rejuvenated look with the least telltale signs of surgery as possible. Today, many facelift options are appealing to many men and women of various ages and can be tailored to individual needs. Today, patients are presenting much younger in life, in their early 40s for a facelift, perhaps a short scar facelift, compared to patients in the past, in order to save them from a more drastic overhaul in their 50s and 60s.

The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck has began to sag, but whose skin still has good elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined.

A facelift is performed with carefully placed incisions. These are made just at the hairline at the temple, extending just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear, back behind the ear and then horizontally into the hairline, unless there is excessive neck skin laxity and the incision is extended down in front of the hairline. Sometimes a "short-scar" facelift is performed and the incisions stop just behind the earlobe. The neck may be addressed through the facelift incisions along with a very small incision concealed beneath the chin. With these incisions, the vertical bands in the neck are manipulated beneath the chin for a smoothing effect and fat deposits are addressed.

It is imperative that any patient considering a facelift stop smoking or using any nicotine product one month before and after a facelift in order to minimize the chance for wound healing difficulties. Avoid taking anti-inflammatories, aspirin, and certain herbs and vitamins. Taking certain medications, vitamin E or herbal supplements can significantly increase bleeding and put you at risk.

There usually is not much discomfort with a facelift. This discomfort can be lessened with pain medication.

 

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